An intelligence agency in a special report has suggested that the government temporarily suspend all direct or indirect activities of Asia Energy to avert severe deterioration in law and order around Phulbari coalmine.

On the third day of the ongoing pre-poll dialogues between political parties and the government yesterday, the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) told the latter that reforming the country's body politic will not be possible through ad hoc measures and top down pressure.

Legal experts and rights activists yesterday said dealing with corruptionists 'leniently' through setting up the Truth and Accountability Commission (TAC) might create an imbalance in the country's justice system and damage the spirit of the ongoing anti-corruption campaign.

The High Court (HC) yesterday asked the authorities not to take steps towards framing charges against BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Tarique Rahman in the Tk 21 core bribery case against him, until June 2.

The authorities concerned are yet to take any punitive actions against Tangail District Jail Jailer Nazrul Islam who had allegedly ordered jail guards to beat up Mirza Shakil, The Daily Star correspondent in Tangail.

THE attack by jail guards on Mirza Shakil, our Tangail correspondent, is yet another example of the intolerance and abhorrence shown by various quarters against any conscientious journalistic pursuit to expose their ugly side. This is the hazard that journalists often face in their line of duty entailing investigative and objective journalism. The correspondent's only 'fault', we cannot work out why it exposed him to such a hostile attitude, was that he had taken a photograph of the visitors being harassed.

THIS week I am tempted, almost like a high school kid, to reproduce some quotes on corruption as said by some important people who lived in the past (Alas! Why all the good words have already been said! Since nothing is there for us to say, we tend to forget those words and merrily indulge in all sorts of forbidden things -- corruption for example!). Yes, the quotes are on corruption, both institutional and political corruption. And I know we never get tired of reading incredible tales of corruption committed by the high and mighty.

HISTORICALLY, land has been the perennial source of livelihood in rural Bangladesh. Land is still considered to be the ladder to uplift socio-economic and political progress of households despite the fact that the importance of land as a source of living has been dwindling over the years. An avalanche of research reports go to show that land-owning households perform far better than landless households in terms of income, nutrition, education, and overall development indicators.

THE Bangladesh High Court (HC) has ruled that children of Urdu-speaking refugees, awaiting repatriation to Pakistan, have the right to Bangladeshi citizenship. Through the verdict by a two-member panel of Justice M.A. Rashid and Justice M. Ashfaqul on Sunday, May 18, some 300,000 refugees now languishing in 70 crammed camps across Bangladesh will have the right to live as Bangladeshis.

The Mumbai Indians lost their third successive nail-biter to leave their semifinal hopes hanging by a thread in the Indian Premier League. With 43 needed off the final three overs for the Rajasthan Royals to protect their 100 per cent home record, youngsters Niraj Patel and Ravindra Jadeja kept their nerve -- while several more experienced Mumbai players lost theirs -- to win it off the final ball at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium in Jaipur on Monday.

Roger Federer's 10th French Open campaign enjoyed a double boost on Monday when he negotiated his way past American Sam Querrey and then saw possible quarterfinal opponent Richard Gasquet pull out injured.

Chelsea received a double blow in their search for a successor to Avram Grant on Monday as Inter Milan manager Roberto Mancini and Russia coach Guus Hiddink both denied they want the Stamford Bridge job.

Veteran West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul on Sunday said the fear of being completely paralysed passed through his mind after he was struck on his helmet by a deadly Brett Lee delivery in the first Test against Australia in Kingston.

The England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) board of directors will meet on Thursday to discuss radical changes to the English domestic structure, in response to the hype surrounding the Indian Premier League and the huge global success of Twenty20.

As the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) ponders on holding its own version of the Indian Premier League (IPL), former Pakistan skipper Javed Miandad denounced the idea saying such a move would destroy the game in the country.

Business

ASA International Holdings, a company managed and partially owned by ASA, one of Bangladesh's largest NGOs, has raised $150 million (around Tk 1,000 crore) as equity from foreign private investors to fund commercial micro-credit lending outside Bangladesh.

Thais are planning to re-locate their labour intensive industrial units to Bangladesh in view of cost effective and trainable labour force available in this country, according to a business delegation of the Bangladesh-Thai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI) that visited Thailand recently.

One of the country's soft drink brands Pepsi yesterday launched a promotional campaign 'Ek Chumkei Pepsi Star', winners of which will get a chance to co-star with football stars like Messi, Beckham, Ronaldinho in an international advertisement of the brand.

Around 30 coal loaded trucks from the Indian State of Meghalaya arrived in Bangladesh yesterday, signaling an end to the 40 day long border dispute that had halted coal imports through the Tamabil Land customs station.

Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono opened Monday a forum seeking billions of dollars in foreign direct investment to boost employment and growth, amid unease about local barriers to business.

As chemical fertilisers are causing gradual degradation of soil, huge wastes generated from human and animal excreta, and household rubbish should be turned into natural manure by using efficient technologies to protect soil and environment.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) yesterday approved submission of charge sheets against two former lawmakers and two deputy conservators of forest for amassing wealth illegally and concealing wealth information.

In the wake of high food prices at global and local markets, the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management recommended procurement of 30 lakh tonnes of food grains, mainly for safety-net programmes in the next fiscal year.

Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday said Bangladesh as a member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) would like to develop meaningful close linkages between Saarc and Asean countries.

President Iajuddin Ahmed yesterday called upon all including, guardians, teachers and the authorities of educational institutions and conscious section of the society to properly nurture the next generation for the sake of the country.

Patients in Habiganj Sadar Modern Hospital and three health complexes have been going without treatment as eight doctors went into hiding following arrest warrants issued by a Habiganj court in connection with a corruption case.

US Ambassador to Bangladesh James F Moriarty here yesterday said the US would provide assistance for setting up radiation detection equipment at Chittagong seaport to help keep its containers free from nuclear radiation.

Teachers, students and employees of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SBAU) yesterday formed a human chain on its campus demanding the authorities appoint a vice chancellor (VC) from its senior and experienced teachers.

National

Leaders of National Oil, Gas, Power, Mineral Resources and Port Protection Committee yesterday urged the caretaker government to leave the decision about Phulbari coalmine for next elected political government.

A library and a memorial museum named after Brishreshtha Lance Nayek Munshi Abdur Rouf will be inaugurated tomorrow at the martyr's village Roufnagar (former Salamatpur) in Modhukhali upazila of the district .

With the expected participation of over 15 lakh pilgrims from different countries, the second largest Kumbha Mela in the sub-continent begins today at village Kadombari under Rajoir upazila in the district.

International

More than 1 million Myanmar cyclone victims will soon be able to receive their first assistance if the country's military regime quickly allows foreign experts into the affected areas, the United Nations said yesterday.

Nepalese authorities yesterday banned protests around the king's palace and private residence to prevent any violence, days before the centuries-old monarchy is formally abolished in this Himalayan nation.

PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari said on Sunday that the PPP could muster the support of as many lawmakers as required for impeaching President Pervez Musharraf, but hastened to add that his party did not want to do that in order to avoid what he called a political upheaval.

The lotus, the symbol of India's main opposition BJP, finally bloomed in southern India as the party is on the verge of forming government in Karnataka on its own after winning the elections to the state legislature.

Environment chiefs from the world's top industrial countries pledged "strong political will" Monday toward cutting greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2050, declaring that developed nations should take the lead in battling global warming.

Powerful storms packing large hail, heavy rain and tornadoes made for a deadly Memorial Day weekend across the nation's midsection, killing at least seven people in Iowa and a 2-year-old child in Minneapolis.

Arts & Entertainment

A daylong painting workshop was recently held at Gallery Chitrak in which 34 leading artists participated. The outputs of the workshop were exhibited at Gallery Chitrak from May 16 to 20. Proceeds from sales of the paintings will go to the global campaign “Walk the World” that addresses hunger.

As part of the 109th birth anniversary celebrations of our National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs organised a special programme at the National Theatre stage, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) on May 25.

Parveen Sultana walked to the centre of the stage and dominated it through a span of more than twenty songs. On Saturday, it was her moment in the spotlight, seeing that Tomar du chokhe chokh rekhe, a CD of twelve of her songs, had only moments earlier been released at the National Museum. Those who have kept track of Sultana's progress in recent times will have a fairly reasonable comprehension of the elevating quality of her songs. The voice is rich, the mastery over delivery is remarkable, all of which is again reflected in these new songs. Penned by Ashraf Hossain and M.R. Waseq, with music in the capable hands of Deba, these songs are an aesthetic delight. In Brishti ashar pelona shomoy, E kemon borsha elo, O matal shure and the like, the versatile in the artiste comes alive yet once more.

The 109th birth anniversary of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam was celebrated in Rajshahi on Sunday. Samilito Sangskritik Jote, Rajshahi organised a colourful cultural function at the open stage of Shahid Minar Mancha, Buban Mohon Park in the evening.

Golam Mustafa is known as a “poet of the Muslim Renaissance.” Yet the ancestral home of this renowned poet is in ruins. No step has yet been taken to preserve the place that carries memories of the poet.

The death of iconic Marathi playwright Vijay Tendulkar in Pune on May 19 brought down the curtains on a golden era of Indian theatre. Tendulkar, 80, who had been ailing for quite some time, is considered one of the doyens of modern Indian playwrights, along with Badal Sircar, Mohan Rakesh and Girish Karnad, who experimented with style and content of drama in a bold and unconventional manner that at times shocked the audience.

The colourful, traditional kite festival was held in Pabna with much festivity recently. The venue was the Pabna Edward College campus and the organiser Rotaract Club of Pabna Midtown put up the first of its kind kite festival in Pabna. A colourful programme was also staged.

OP-ED

WHETHER we like or not, a number of fundamental reforms have taken place after 1/11 and more is being done for the structural enhancement of the state, its government and people's lives. It seems that the primary drive behind the interim government's actions was to ensure people's rights and to eliminate the conflicting roles of government machineries wherever possible.

THE media recently carried a report that Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) is going to install 176 closed circuit televisions (CCTV) at 59 city locations and disseminate traffic information etc., via 36 digital billboards and radio. This 61-crore taka project is the most ambitious effort to bring the city under close vigilance of the law enforcers.

WORLD food prices have gone through the roof in the last few years. Being part of the globalised economy, Bangladesh has also felt the repercussions of this exorbitant inflationary hike. Thus, with international market price of rice witnessing a staggering three fold plus rise in a span of the last ten months, Bangladesh with its burgeoning 150 million overly rice dependent population has fallen into a quandary of calamitous proportions.

IT seems that I may have offended certain readers by a recent column in which I said their favourite rock stars were moronic, gibbering idiots without enough brain cells to string two words together. Hey -- I meant it as a compliment.